Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Review: Dare You To

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth.""No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again...."I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Review:

Protagonists: This story is about Beth, a girl who's life has left her without trust and the knowledge of real love, and Ryan, a boy who's life has been anything but perfect, yet to to outside world that's all they see when they look at his family, Perfect. I loved the character of Beth in Pushing the Limits, and this book only made me love her more. I love characters that have a tough exterior, yet also have a vulnerable side as well. Ryan is a new character, but he was a character I related to almost instantly.

Romance: While in Pushing the Limits Echo and Noah both came from practically the same place and it was that common ground that brought them together, Ryan and Beth couldn't be more different. This is one of, if not the best opposites attract stories I've ever read. The romance happens slow and with their constant habit of terrorizing each other it seems like they'd never get together. There is a bit of a love triangle, or maybe square, but it's not the type of romance where the other interests have a shot, more like they are their to block Beth and Ryan from being together.

World-Building: The Beth that we met in Pushing the Limits kept her life secret and in this book we get to find out what those secrets are. We learn more about her life growing up, what happened to her to turn her so cold-hearted, and why she can't trust anyone. We also learn all about Ryan, how on the outside it could look like he has a perfect life, while on the inside it's anything but perfect. With parents who hate each other, but stay together for appearances and a brother he hasn't talked to in months and not for lack of trying.

Predictability: This book wasn't necessarily predictable or not. Sure there were times when I was shocked by certain moments or saw something coming from a mile away, but it wan't that there was foreshadowing, it was just that it seemed to be the logical place that the book would go. The more surprising moments seemed to come out of no where and added a touch of excitement every time something unforeseen happened.

Ending: The ending was absolutely perfect. It was one of those endings with an epilogue to catch the reader up on what happened since the book would have "ended." I'm a huge fan of epilogue or epilogue-like endings. It makes it easier to let go of a book or series once it ends because it gives the reader a glimpse into the future and gives hope that something won't get all screwed up.

Rating:

I went into this book knowing that I was going to love it, but I didn't know how much! I'm not a big contemporary reader, but there's something addictive about Katie McGarry's writing that will always make me want to come back for more. I took a chance on the first book in this companion novel series, Pushing the Limits, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. I'm counting down the days until I can get my hands on a copy of Crash Into You, Isaiah's story.

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According to the FTC, I must point out that all the books reviewed on my blog were; purchased by myself, borrowed from the library, won in a giveaway, or received from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. All reviews on books received from the author or publisher will be clearly stated, if not then they were purchased by me. I do not receive or accept compensation for writing reviews.